Performance installation issues

If this forum is setup similar to the Windows 8 forum, my laptop specs should appear as part of my signature. I come to this forum to help fix a few issues with my now upgraded version of Windows. Honestly, in the 20+ years I've owned pc's and laptops, after a Packard Bell I had back in the 486 days, this has to be one of the worst computers I've ever owned! I bought it brand new, although a clearance model from Radio Shack in the Spring of 2014. Since then I must have re-installed Windows now a half dozen times or more. In fact I just did so less then a month ago, and it's already acting shady again.

What I need advice on today. The performance side of my question is making sure my system is stable enough to back up personal data. I don't think it is at this moment. I've had several crashes while reading Facebook where the screen just goes black and I get the round icon that stands for it's working..(or thinking of ways to make me angry). This results in having to do a warm boot. Something Windows was never really fond of even back in the old dos days.

Once I am confident the system is stable enough, I wish to go to Microsoft's website and download the iso and burn off a bootable "clean" version of Windows 10. Since the computer came with Win8.1 preloaded, I have yet to find out where the foot long key is so when I do a fresh install of Win10 I have it handy. Any tips or suggestions before I do all this?

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hTconeM9user said:

So when you come to do a clean install you can skip the part where it ask for it as it will be already I believe on their servers.

That would be incorrect. The Windows 8 product key should be stored in the computer's bios. If jayv2251 does a clean install of the correct edition of Windows 10, it will read the Windows 8 product key from bios and never ask him to enter one. If it does ask him for a product key, then there is something going wrong.

You can see the product key stored in bios, and what version of Windows it is for, by running showkeyplus from this forum:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

I almost feel stupid asking these questions. After all, early 2000's I was going to school for LCA, A+, and Net+ back when the Windows version of choice was Win2000 and the newly released XP, which wasn't even on my A+ software portion of the test! Having said all that, I understand there's no longer a way to enter safe mode on rebooting? I also don't see a way or means to access the bios. When I boot, I get I have System Mechanic check my registry, then Toshiba splash screen before Windows loads. I'm so rusty, how can I get to the bios to go over settings and such? I know this isn't part of my initial question, but would be handy when I go to do the fresh Win10 install I plan on doing.

Turning off Windows 10 Fast Startup will let you press the key to get into bios setup at boot time:

Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Enable F8 again to select safe mode using option 2 here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/22455-f8-advanced-boot-options-enable-disable-windows-10-a.html

Thanks for the tips folks. Just two more questions. At this time, I know 2 things. Before I install anything else, I'm going to download the ISO of Windows 10 for a fresh install. I figure this will help clear any "junk" left over from repairing and upgrading the system 3-4 times. (Like Norton junk...) One thing I will admit I've been negligent with is doing back-ups. Although I did manage to back a few files up to memory sticks, like my favorites folder, I really want a better automated system that'll back up to OneDrive.